Communities of
hunter-gatherers formed here and there in the Shirakawa and Kamigamo
districts.

to AD 300

Rice
cultivation and metal tool cultures were introduced from the continent.
Agricultural communities appeared along the Katsura River, at Fukakusa, the
Yamashina basin and other areas.

to AD 500

The Hata clan
established itself in the Sagano district, successfully carried out flood
control work and built a large sluice on the Kadono River (now the Katsura
River).

678

Founding of the
Kamo shrines (Kamigamo-jinja and Shimogamo-jinja).

794

Emperor
Kanmu transfers the capital to Kyoto(then called Heian-kyo).
Green roof tiles for the imperial palace are fired in kilns in Iwakura and
other areas of north Kyoto.

Heian-kyo (now
Kyoto)
As shown in "Heian-kyo Reborn", a display model of the original
city built for the 1200th anniversary, Shujaku Street ran north from
Rajomon Gate towards the imperial palace.

796

Emperor Kanmu
orders construction of To-ji Temple.

805

Founding of
Kiyomizu-dera Temple, by Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro.
Saicho, founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, returns from China.

806

Kukai, founder
of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, returns from China.
* The katakana script comes into use around this time.

810

For the first
time, an unmarried woman in the imperial family serves as a priestess in
the Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival, also called Kamo-sai).

828

Kukai opens
Shugeishuchi-in, the nationユs first education institution, where
Buddhism and Confucianism are taught to the common folk.

863

Goryo-e rituals
are conducted in Shin-en Garden. This was the precursor of today's Gion
Matsuri.
* The hiragana script comes into use around this time.

874

The priest
Rigen-Daishi establishes Daigo-ji Temple on Mt. Kasatori.
(The remainder of the temple below the mountain was completed at the start
of the 10th century.)

887

Emperor Uda
establishes Ninna-ji Temple.

894

At the
recommendation of government official and scholar Sugawara-no-Michizane, the
practice of sending large groups of emissaries to learn from China is
abolished.
* Japanese culture begins developing independently.

905

Kino
Tsurayuki, government official and man of letters, takes a prominent part in
compiling the imperial anthology, Kokin-wakashu.

938

Kuya, founder
of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, spreads the faith in Kyoto.

970

The Gion
Goryo-e (precursor of today's Gion Matsuri) becomes a state ritual.

A painting depicting
Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji, by Tosa Mitsuoki (1617 -
1691). (Ishiyama-dera Temple)A variety of Genji
talesCompleted in about the year 1000,Genji Monogatari
is a major work of prose literature, extending to 54 chapters and dealing
mainly with life in Heian-period Kyoto. From the beginning, it has been
enormously popular. The author of Sarashina Nikki (Sarashina Diary)
candidly expressed that the emotion she experienced on reading this work
was stronger even than the pleasure felt after being appointed
lady-in-waiting to an imperial princess. In Japan alone, hundreds of
research papers and translations into modern Japanese are still being
produced today. Although the true value of classics is to be found in the
original work, interpretation into contemporary language for readers in
another era with different values adds another dimension of reading
enjoyment.

1086

Emperor Shirakawa
begins ruling from retirement.

1096

The first
recorded yabusame event is held at the Toba Palace, Emperor
Shirakawa's retirement villa (now Jonangu Shrine). Yabusame was
performed by warriors, who shot arrows at targets while mounted on horses
at full gallop. Dengaku, festivals of music and dance associated
with agriculture are very popular in Kyoto.
* Samurai gain prominence around this time.

1156

Hogen
Disturbance: Taira-no-Kiyomori, Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and others attack the
palace of retired emperor Sutoku, later forcing him into exile.

1159

Heiji
Disturbance: Fujiwara-no-Nobuyori, Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and others attack
the palace of the retired emperor Go-shirakawa, in the vicinity of Sanjo
and Karasuma Streets.

1175

Genku (priest
Honen), founder of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, spreads the faith in Kyoto.

Kamo-no-Chomei
writes Hojo-ki (translated as The Ten Foot Square Hut and An
Account of My Hut.
* Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike) is passed on as a popular
tale.

1221

Jokyu
Disturbance: retired emperor Go-toba attempts to overthrow the shogunal regent,
Hojo Yoshitoki. The attempt fails and the shogunate establishes the
Rokuhara Tandai (shogunal deputies) in Kyoto to maintain its authority in
the city.
* Shinran, founder of the Jodo-shin sect of Buddhism, spreads the faith in
Kyoto.

Ippen, founder
of the Ji sect of Buddhism proselytizes in Kyoto. A messenger from Kyushu brings
news of a Mongol invasion. (Again in 1281.)
* Yoshida Kenko writes Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness).

1335

Graffiti is
written in prose form where Nijo Street meets the Kamo River. The writer reports
that night-time breaking and entering, armed holdups and fraud are
currently rife throughout the city.

1336

Ashikaga
Takauji installs Emperor Komyo (the Northern Court) in Kyoto, while the incumbent
Emperor Go-daigo, who had been forced to flee south to Yoshino establishes
the Southern Court. The split continued until 1392.

1338

Ashikaga
Takauji is appointed shogun.
* The ship Tenryuji-bune is sent to trade with China, to raise funds for
building of Tenryu-ji Temple. Gozan bungaku (Chinese learning)
flourishes in the Gozan Zen temples of Kyoto.

The Chinese
emperor formally recognises Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as the ruler of Japan,
addressing him as the ヤKing of Japanユ
in official correspondence.
* Noh achieves general popularity, thanks to Kan-ami, his son Ze-ami, and
others.
* Painting in Indian ink, Tea, rikka (standing flowers), Sarugaku
(a precursor of Noh and Kyogen) and other arts flourished around this time.

A scene from the Kyogen
comedy, Kamabara.When her idle husband
refuses to go into the mountains to collect firewood, the wife loses her
temper and threatens to do him in with a sickle, declaring there is no
point in him being alive.

The strong-minded
women in Kyogen and other playsIn Kyogen, which is
believed to have developed during the Muromachi Period, many of the
characters are city or farming men, women, parents, children, etc., who
have no family names. Until the beginning of the middle ages, it was
customary for men to be received into the households of their brides. Women
possessed inheritance rights to the house, property and other assets, which
means they had a good grip on finances. The vestiges of such practices were
still visible at the time Kyogen prospered, with many women engaging in all
sorts of commercial activities, such as selling sake, fish, tofu, clothing,
and so on. Kyogen parodies the times, sometimes drawing laughter through
depictions of women that are full of life and good humour, but occasionally
prone to causing great disturbance through irrational behaviour.

1450

Hosokawa
Katsumoto establishes Ryoan-ji Temple.

1462

Ikenobo
Senkei, founder of the Ikenobo school of ikebana and said to have founded
the rikka (standing flower) style, arranges flowers at the
invitation of the powerful Kyogoku family.

1467

The Onin War begins
(continuing until 1477).
* Higashiyama culture flourishes around this time.

1482

Ashikaga Yoshimasa
begins construction of a mountain villa in Higashiyama (later to become
Ginkaku-ji Temple).
* Work begins on painting of the Rakuchu Rakugai-zu (Within Kyoto /
Outside of Kyoto) folding screen.

A part of the Rakuchu
Rakugai-zu painting in the Uesugi Family Book. This copy is from a ceramic
panel in Kyoto ASNY.

Gion Matsuri - an
expression of the townspeople's energyGion Matsuri dates from
869. Epidemic was raging throughout the country at the time, and special
rituals were held to drive out the evil. These rituals are believed to be
the precursors of today's festival, Gion Matsuri. The festival was not held
for more than 30 years, after most of Kyoto was destroyed during the Onin
War (1467 - 1477). However, the drive of the townspeople rebuilt the city
and resurrected the festival. While only 36 of the original 58 floats took
part in the revived festival procession, the vitality of the townspeople
ushered in a new era of cultural prosperity. In a period when religious
organizations were growing increasingly powerful, the government sought to
ban Gion Matsuri. To this the people retorted they could do without the
rituals, but insisted on going ahead with the procession of floats. The
festival has been maintained through periods of hardship solely by the
energy of the townspeople, for their own satisfaction. This same energy
still pulsates throughout Kyoto, especially in the old quarters that
maintain the festival floats.

1500

Gion-e (Gion
Matsuri) is resurrected by the Kyoto townspeople.

1550

The Christian
missionary Francis Xavier arrives in Kyoto.

1568

Oda Nobunaga arrives
in Kyoto to lend military support to Ashikaga Yoshiaki, setting up camp in
To-ji Temple.

1571

Competitions
in traditional dance take place in neighbourhood communities all over the
city.
Around this time, there were 47 such communities in Kamigyo (Upper Kyoto)
and 50 in Shimogyo (Lower Kyoto).

1573

Oda
Nobunaga sends Ashikaga Yoshiaki into exile and brings an end to the
Muromachi shogunate.

1575

The
townspeople invite Oda Nobunaga to Kyoto and give a Noh performance at
Myoken-ji Temple.
Nobunaga holds a Tea gathering at Myokaku-ji Temple, in which Kyoto
townspeople take part.
Nobunaga appoints Sen Soeki (Sen-no-Rikyu) as his Master of Tea.

Illustration of
Sen-no-Rikyu, by Horiuchi Senkaku. (Urasenke School of Tea)

Toyotomi
Hideyoshi is appointed kanpaku, (chief adviser to the Emperor).Momoyama culture prospers
around this time.

1587

Hideyoshi
builds a magnificent palace, named Juraku-dai.

1591

Hideyoshi
relocates Hongan-ji Temple to its present location (now Nishi Hongan-ji Temple);
and builds earthen levee banks around the main part of the city.
Land tax on government-owned land within the city limits is abolished.

1594

Construction
of Fushimijo Castle.

1596

A major
earthquake (Keicho Dai-jishin) causes many casualties, and extensive
damage to Fushimijo Castle and Kyoto.

1600

Battle of
Sekigahara: Tokugawa Ieyasu brings the country under one rule.

1601

In unifying
the nationユs currency, Ieyasu establishes the country's
first silver mint in Fushimi.

1603

Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes the
first shogun of the Edo Period, and builds Nijo Castle as his base in
Kyoto.
Izumo-no-Okuni, reputed founder of kabuki, begins presenting kabuki performances
at Kitano Shrine.

Ieyasu presents
land in Takagamine to the artist Hon-ami Koetsu. A large community of
artisans develops in Takagamine.
* Tawaraya Sotatsu is active at this time, painting the famous Fujin
Raijin byobu (Folding screen illustration of the Gods of Wind and
Thunder), etc.
* Kyo-yaki ceramics is in its beginning stages, in the Higashiyama
district.
* Kyoto is at the heart of a prospering publishing industry of works by
private citizens.

1641

Kano Tanyu and
other artists of the Kano school are commissioned to paint sliding
partitions in the Imperial Palace.

1658

Publication of books on famous
places and other aspects of Kyoto: Kyo-warabe in 1658; Kyo-suzume
in 1665 and Kyo-habutae in 1685.
* Kabuki theatres thrive on the dry riverbed near Shijo Street.
* Ihara Saikaku publishes Koshoku Ichidai Otoko (The Life of an Amorous
Man), among other books set in Kyoto and illustrated with ukiyo-e.

Ichikawa Danjuro, the first in
the Ichikawa family of kabuki actors, returns to the Maruyama-za theatre
(on the dry riverbed near Shijo Street).
* Ogata Korin and younger brother Ogata Kenzan are active at this time. The
"Korin" design becomes an established pattern in yuzen-style
dyeing.

Display of
folding screens by private houses on the eve of the Gion-e (Gion Matsuri)
becomes a popular practice.
* The Maruyama-Shijo (Okyo / Goshun) schools of painting achieve broad
fame.

1780

Miyako
Meisho Zu-e, an
illustrated publication aimed at the common folk, is a huge success.

1799

Publication of Miyako
Rinsen Meisho Zu-e, a guide to famous gardens in Kyoto.
* Sightseeing in Kyoto has thrived since the middle of the Edo Period. The
attraction of Kyoto spawned a great variety of local products identifiable
with Kyoto: kyo-ningyo, kyo-gashi, kyo-sensu, kyo-beni, kyo-fukuro-mono
(dolls, confectionery, folding fans, lipstick, accessories, etc.).
* At this time, 183 publishing / book-selling establishments were operating
in Kyoto.

1822

The poet,
historian and Confucian scholar Rai Sanyo moves into his studio
"Sanshi Suimei-sho", set among picturesque surroundings, and
holds gatherings for discussion of the arts and culture.

1847

A school for
the nobility opens near the Kenshun-mon Gate to the Imperial Palace. This school
was later instrumental in development of the sonno-joi (Revere the
Emperor; Expel the Intruders) movement that played a part in restoration of
imperial rule and the downfall of the Edo shogunate.

1862

Teradaya Incident:
A number of anti-shogunate, anti-foreign imperial loyalists, including the
leader of the Satsuma domain, were killed in a Fushimi inn.

1864

Ikedaya
Incident: The shogun's special police force, Shinsengumi, attacks a
gathering of anti-shogunate, anti-foreign imperial loyalists at a Kyoto
inn, killing some and arresting others.
Hamaguri Gomon Incident: A battle between shogunate forces and
anti-foreign, anti-shogunate forces of the Choshu domain (now Yamaguchi
Prefecture). The Choshu forces are defeated.

1867

Sakamoto Ryoma
and Nakaoka Shintaro (imperial loyalists) are assassinated in Omiya by
members of a shogunate peace-keeping force.At Nijo Castle, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun, formally returns political
rule to the Emperor.

1868

Battle of
Toba-Fushimi: Shogunate forces are defeated by the army of the new imperial
government. The office of daikan (shogunate's local administrator)
is abolished, and administration of the Kyoto region is ceded to Kyoto
Prefecture.

Umeya Elementary
School, one of the Bangumi schools. Elementary schools of that time were surrounded by trees serving as fire
walls. The schools also housed fire-fighting units, ward offices, police
stations and other local administrative functions.

The first elementary
schools in Japan:Japan's first
elementary schools opened in Kyoto in 1869, three years before
establishment of the school zone system. More than half of the city had
been destroyed by fire before the Imperial Restoration of 1868. Compounded
with transfer of the capital and the Imperial residence to Tokyo, the
people of Kyoto were uneasy about their future. The townspeople understood that
the future of Kyoto lay in education and training. They therefore set out
to build an elementary school for every neighbourhood community (Bangumi),
establishing 64 schools in all. None of the schools were large, covering
only about 300 square metres on average. They were administered by civic
organizations, which took responsibility for managing the schools,
collection and allocation of funds, and so on. Furthermore, from the Meiji
era until recent times, many schools possessed works of fine arts and crafts,
presented in gratitude and as encouragement by former students who had gone
on to become skill ed artists and artisans.

1871

Western-style
time-keeping methods were applied at each school. Start of classes, etc., were
marked by the beat of a drum.

1872

The 1st Kyoto Exposition.
The 1st Miyako Odori (Miyako Dance).
Telegraph communications are established in the Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe
region, and between Kyoto and Tokyo.

1873

The nation's
1st jokoba (junior high school for girls) opens in Kyoto.

1876

Establishment
of a prefectural teacher training college.

1877

Work begins on
construction of Kyoto Station. A railway link opens between Kyoto and Kobe.
The first domestically-produced Jacquard weaving machine is completed.

1878

First edition
of the newspaper Kyoto Nichi-nichi Shinbun.

1880

Kyoto-fu
Ga-Gakko opens (now the Kyoto City University of Arts).

E ni Naru Saisho (The First Time in Paint), by Takeuchi
Seiho (Kyoto City Museum of Fine Arts). Depicts the
embarrassment and hesitation of a model about to pose nude for the first
time. This is one of the few works by Seiho that include people.

Painting a sparrow that
chirps:Takeuchi Seiho was a
master of painting in early modern Kyoto, active during the Meiji, Taisho
and Showa eras. As Japan on the whole westernized after the Meiji
Restoration, Seiho put a halt to the decline in Japanese painting
(Nihon-ga), contributing enormously to incorporation and development of new
styles and techniques. From his early years, Seiho was skilled at drawing
sparrows, and generally regarded to be the best. In later years, some of
his paintings were in effect valued in terms of the number of sparrows they
contained. However, Seiho was not satisfied with his work. He is reported
to have lamented, "There are tales of paintings where the sparrows
were so real that they flew off the paper, leaving only the outline. My
sparrows don't even give a chirp to show they're about to leave." An
apt description of Seiho, a painter on an endless quest for the essence of
drawing. Seiho once said the artist should "paint volumes rather than
try to explain, should think deeply rather than paint volumes, should stand
silent before nature, rather than think deeply."

1885

First edition
of the newspaper Hinode Shinbun.
Work begins on the Lake Biwa Aqueduct.

1886

Maruyama Park
opens.

1889

Promulgation of
the Constitution of the Empire of Japan
Enactment of the Kyoto-shisei-shiko, officially designating Kyoto a
city. (Kyoto Prefecture had one city and 279 towns at the time.)
The first city administrative assembly is held in Daiun-in Temple.
Completion of work on the Keage Incline, for the Lake Biwa Aqueduct.

1891

The nation's
first hydro-electric power station begins generating in Keage.

1895

Projects marking the 1100th
anniversary of the founding of Heian-kyo (now Kyoto): Inauguration of the nationユs first electrically-powered tramcar service (Kyoto Denki
Tetsudo). In the same year, the service was expanded to run from
Nanzen-ji Temple to Fushimi.
Construction of Heian-jingu Shrine.
Kyoto sponsors the National Industrial Exhibition.
The 1st Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages).

A commemorative photograph
taken during inauguration of the electric tramcar service. The initial
route was 6.7 km long, and ran between Shichijo Street and Fushimi.

1897

Kyoto Imperial
University opens (now Kyoto University).

1898

Repeal of the special
municipal regulations that restrict the autonomy of the three main cities:
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The City Government Office opens at the
intersection of Teramachi Street and Oike Street. (October 15 is Kyoto City
Autonomy Commemoration Day)

1903

Kinen
Dobutsuen
(Commemoration Zoo) opens (now the Kyoto City Zoo).

1904

Kawashima
Jinbei enters samples of Nishijin textiles at the St. Louis Exposition, and
receives the highest award.

1907

Shooting of the
first movie to be produced in Japan starts at Shinnyo-do Temple.

The founding
conference of the Zenkoku Suihei-sha is held in Okazaki. The Suihei-sha
represented burakumin (a minority group) all over Japan. Their aim was
active opposition to discriminatory practices and unfair treatment.

1927

Opening of the
Maruyama Park Outdoor Music Stage.
Opening of the Kyoto Central Wholesale Market, the first of its kind in
Japan.

1928

Municipally-run
City Bus services begin, between Demachi and the Botanical Garden.

Nihon-ga (Japanese painting) artists Uemura
Shoko and others set up the Sozo-bijutsu (Creative Art Society - now
the So-ga-kai, or Creative Painting Society).
Ceramic artist Yagi Kazuo and others form the Sodei-sha (Earthwormユs Footprints Group) for the purpose of creating a new kind of
ceramic art.

1949

Yukawa Hideki
becomes the first Japanese to receive a Nobel Prize (Physics).

1954

NHK begins
television transmissions in Kyoto

1955

Inoue Yachiyo
IV, dancer of kyo-mai and choreographer, is among the first group of
artists and artisans to be designated Living National Treasures.

1956

Enactment of
the Kyoto City Citizens' Charter.
Establishment of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra.
Mishima Yukio completes his novel, Kinkaku-ji.

1958

Proclamation
of a Friendship Agreement with Paris, France (the 1st Sister City).

ESTAMPIDA, a gift from Guadalajara, stands in
Takara-ga-ike Park. The sculpture suggests a mob of stampeding wild horses.

Kyotoユs Sister CitiesKyoto currently has
Sister City relationships with nine cities: Paris (France), Boston,
Cologne, Florence, Kiev, Xian, Guadalajara, Zagreb and Prague. Significant
artistic and cultural exchange, exchange of monuments, and other activities
take place with each of these cities. For instance, the Kyoto City Mayor's
Prize is presented to the winner of the Boston Marathon each year. In 1994,
a Japanese-style garden modeled on that of Sanpo-in Temple (within Daigo-ji
Temple) was constructed in Guadalajara, to commemorate Guadalajara's 450th
anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the Sister City relationship. As a
city open to "the free exchange of the world's cultures", Kyoto
will continue to develop towards achievement of the highest ideals.

The 1st World
Historical Cities Conference is held in Kyoto.
The International Research Center for Japanese Studies opens.

1988

Held in Kyoto
for the second time, the city sponsors the 43rd National Sports Festival.

1989

Kyoto
International Community House opens.

1994

Projects marking
the 1200th anniversary of the founding of Heian-kyo (now Kyoto)
The 1st Kyoto Matsuri (Kyoto Festival).
Cultural assets of the old capital, Kyoto, are listed as World Cultural
Heritage Sites.

1995

Kyoto Concert
Hall opens.

Kyoto Concert Hall

1996

Kyoto City
Industrial Exhibition Hall (Miyako Messe) opens.

1997

Extension of the
Subway Karasuma Line to the Kyoto International Conference Hall.
Kyoto sponsors the National Inter-High School Sports Festival.
The new Kyoto Station opens.
The Subway Tozai Line begins services.
The UNFCCC-COP3 conference is held in Kyoto.
The 1st Kyoto Film Festival.